Elina's annual visit

Last week Elina visited us. She's my friend. I've known her for a long time now. Our mutual online friend introduced us. He thought we might like each other, and eventually we did. Though it took several years before we met in real life, probably because Elina thought I was weird. Anyway. I like Elina because she's a girl. And before you think "that's the most lamest compliment ever", let me explain; She's the only girl friend I have, the rest of my friends are boys. So it feels really good to hang out with a girl for a change.

I didn't do anything special with Elina. I asked her earlier what she would like to do, but she said that she only wanted to see my family. She did visit me last year, but J.R. got sick when they were supposed to meet and Papu obviously is a newcomer. So meeting one new person and one new puppy would be enough entertainment for two days.

So we didn't do anything special, but we did knit. (Knitting is cool, kids. You should try it too.) Elina chose some super bulky yarn from our stash and started to knit mittens. She's not very experienced with knitting, so we had to help her. She knew how to knit and purl, but not how to read knitting patterns or how to decrease and stuff. But her first mitten turned out great! Like seriously great. She should be proud of it. At least I'm very proud of myself , because I was able to help her to make it. I thought I couldn't even read knitting patterns. It's proved now that I'm not so hopeless after all. I'm getting there, slowly.

Elina was also very generous. She brought us three skeins of Novita's 7-Veljestä wool yarn: one dark green, one lime green and one natural white. She also brought me her old fashion magazines, because she knows how much I like to read them. They probably weighted like hell, so I really appreciate the effort.


Papu says "thank you"!

Anyway. I had fun. I always like to spend time with Elina, and I'm a bit sad that we weren't able to move to Tampere. It would have been fun. We could have visited each other more often and make some tea and knit and watch TV. That's all I've ever wanted. A friend who likes to do everything that I like to do and vice versa.

Project update

Now it's official! I have knitted my first pair of socks. I made J.R. to wear my white tights so I could get a nice picture of them. He does basically anything for me if I just ask, cross-dressing and everything. Though I guess he didn't expect me to blog about it. But on the other hand, he's dating a blogger... what else could he expect? I'm blogging it all because without him my life would be way too boring to blog about.



And I've been working on my fawn too! I finally found some wire for the legs so it should be finished soon. The legs are just really boring to crochet and to sew in. And I'm not exactly happy with the outcome either, but at least it's something different. And it looks kinda cute... still.


I bet you haven't seen a fawn with eight spider legs yet?

By the way, our living room floor looks always like a mess after my serious crafting projects. I can't help it... I'm so good at creating all kind of mess and chaos. But I blame the bloody tables! They're always too small! I demand bigger tables! Who's with me?


J.R. is showing off his lovely legs again.

There is still one final picture I want to show to you... Remember how I gave a plastic green room and some herb seeds to J.R. as a birthday gift? Some of the seeds have already sprouted! It's supposed to be rocket but J.R. is a bit skeptical and thinks it's just some random weeds.


Looks like the spring is coming...

Cable Legwarmers

I finally finished the legwarmers I started some time ago. I had a minor setback with the first legwarmer. I totally forgot that it was supposed to fit someone's calves (Elina's, actually) so I casted it off way too tightly. I had to unravel it and cast it off again and it kinda killed my knitting mood. I had to had a small break until I was ready to go on with the second legwarmer. Anyway. I'm pretty pleased with the end result.


I love my vintage shoes!

I got the inspiration from Vickalicious and I used the original pattern only to learn how to make the same cables. I'm going to give my legwarmers to Elina if they fit her. I'll see that on Thursday when I'm going to meet her at Tampere.

Today I also extemporaneously decided to visit Anttila and I found out that the Tamagotchi Charm sets were on sale. Of course I bought myself an own set! I use them as stitch markers.


The green fellow is called Kuchipatchi.

I'm doing it an Anglo-Saxon way!

J.R. just finished his first pair of socks. I'm so proud of him. He learned so quickly and his socks are really good considering that he's a knitter novice. I'm so happy that I gave him Stitch 'N Bitch: The Knitter's Handbook. It seems that it was a good Christmas present after all. Hannes was a bit doubtful when I was getting it for J.R. ("How gay you want him to be??!") but I had a really good feeling in my guts. And I guess right now J.R. likes knitting better than crocheting. He likes to make practical things, such as socks, and he likes to play with all the equipments (you need five knitting needles if you want to make basic socks). And he likes challenges and difficult patterns.


It's OK to keep your feet on the table if you're photographing your new socks.

I have started to knit too. I got inspired by Une Cabled Legwarmers by Vicky of Vickilicious Knits and I wanted to create something similar. According the original pattern you're supposed to knit the whole thing flat on straights. I don't have straight knitting needles, so I'm improvising and knitting my legwarmers closed like socks. I think that at least my first legwarmer is looking pretty nice:


If I ever finish these, I'm going to give them to Elina. I don't wear legwarmers but she does.

I have to admit that I like the simplicity of knitting. Knit and purl. Knit. And purl. But on the other hand, I find it boring. If you start knitting a sock, you probably end up with a sock. If you start to crochet an amigurumi pig, you might end up with... purple alien piglet, like this:



I like to crochet amigurumis because I can never tell beforehand how they are going to turn out. The end result is always a surprise. And I really like to create something unique, with a personality. That's what amigurumis are to me; unique items with lot's of personality.